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Manufacturing activity in the Chicago region rose to its highest level in almost 23 years in February, the Institute for Supply Chain Management-Chicago said Monday.

ISM-Chicago’s monthly index rose to a reading of 71.2, from 68.8 in January, ISM said. Figures greater than 50 signal expansion.

It marked the index’s 17th straight month of expansion and was the highest reading since July 1988, ISM-Chicago said.

Economists had projected the index would fall to a 67.5 reading, Bloomberg reported.

Chicago is a major center of U.S. manufacturing, which is one of trucking’s largest and most important customers.